MVP Race 2012: Tony Parker Deserves Love from Voters After Epic Season
LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant dominate the MVP race, but it's time to consider Tony Parker for the top prize this season.
Against the LA Lakers on Tuesday, Tony Parker dominated the court in a show of what can be done when he is given free reign to play how he sees fit.
He finished the game with 29 points and 13 assists as the Spurs dominated their fellow Western Conference giants.
There was nothing out of the ordinary about the night, because Parker can do that on a nightly basis, but the Spurs' age and durability issues mandate they win, and that minutes be monitored constantly.
No player has done more with less than Parker as Gregg Popovich continues to give his veterans rest, something he has been careful to do all season.
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LeBron James: 27.1 points 7.9 rebounds 6.3 assists
Kevin Durant: 27.8 points 7.9 rebounds 3.5 assists
Kobe Bryant: 28.1 points 5.4 rebounds 4.6 assists
Those are lofty numbers that Parker can't contend with. The Spurs star guard is averaging 18.5 points 2.8 rebounds 7.7 assists per game.
You have to consider that Parker is only averaging 32.5 minutes per game—the lowest of any MVP favorite, as they all near 38 minutes per game.
The Spurs entered the season already trying to hold on for dear life. The thought was they were too old to command a strike-shortended season that would require a myriad of back-to-backs.
The schedule has indeed been rough, but the Spurs have far surpassed expectations and currently hold the No. 1 seed in the West.
Instead of dominating with young star power like the Thunder and Heat, the Spurs bring a measured approach that takes a great deal of veteran experience to keep going.
Parker may not light up the box score, but he's giving the team scoring boosts when they need them and is taking over in big games.
Beyond that, he's incorporating role players which is paying dividends at this point in the season.
The fact that much of his production had to come without Manu Ginobili who has only played in 31 games this season is immense.
In the era of the big three, Parker had to carry this team for long stretches this season.
The Spurs are at the top spot in the West, and there's no way that would be true without Tony Parker at the helm, and it's that simple.
It's time for him to be in the discussion.
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